UPDATE: Ohio E. coli Outbreak Increases to 61 with 11 Hospitalized

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 61 individuals have become ill and 11 have been hospitalized. Of the ill, 11 have been confirmed to be infected by E. Coli O157. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 200-300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic held by Neff’s Lawn Care, 9400 Ekhart Road, on July 3.

Public Health is continuing to gather information through interviews with those who attended the picnic and became ill and also those who did not become ill. Investigators are also looking at food sources, food handling and storage practices, food temperature controls, and the potential of cross contamination of the food.

Cases that have involved residents of Ohio over the last decades include:

Bill Marler is an accomplished personal injury lawyer and national expert on foodborne illness litigation. He began representing victims of foodborne illness in 1993, when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, resulting in her landmark $15.6 million settlement. Marler founded Food Safety News in 2009.

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Ric Dalpay

This sounds like a seasonal event.
Warmer than normal temperature are defeating the usual forms of refrigeration. Food stored in an ice chest may rise above recommended temperature. Electric coolers are sometimes less efficient when running on a long extension cord. I would recommend using dry ice in coolers, but this opens a new set of problematic behavior.
Another factor may be when a participant does not consume the meal in a timely fashion. It is customary to take home a plate of food for someone who could not attend. In this case a “Doggie Bag” may be a vector for bacterial growth.

About Bill Marler

Bill Marler is an accomplished personal injury and products liability attorney. He began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993, when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.